The Jacksonville Jaguars may have cashed in on a 2025 NFL Draft faller that the league undervalued
When it comes to edge pressure, there aren’t many better duos in the NFL right now than Travon Walker and Josh Hines-Allen for the Jacksonville Jaguars. The duo finished the 2024 season with 106 total tackles, 23 tackles for loss, 18.5 sacks, and 34 additional quarterback hits. That was even down from what it was […]
When it comes to edge pressure, there aren’t many better duos in the NFL right now than Travon Walker and Josh Hines-Allen for the Jacksonville Jaguars. The duo finished the 2024 season with 106 total tackles, 23 tackles for loss, 18.5 sacks, and 34 additional quarterback hits. That was even down from what it was the previous season (118 total tackles, 27 tackles for loss, 27.5 sacks, and 52 quarterback hits in 2023).
When that pair is locked in and playing well, they are a lot to deal with for an opposing offense. You can bet the Jaguars plan on building around those two, and hopefully continuing to add quality depth in the room. The defensive line wasn’t a point of emphasis for the team in the 2025 NFL Draft.
The Jaguars were active after the draft ended in finding quality defensive ends. There is one player in particular that has a chance to become a massive steal after the NFL chose to undervaluing. That player is Oklahoma defensive end Ethan Downs, a prospect with a lot of redeemable traits.
While Downs might not be the twitchiest or longest edge rusher of all time, he plays with a relentless motor that goes until the echo of the whistle. He also understands how to soften angles from a rush perspective, allowing him to make up for a lack of bend. Add in Downs’ high effort and power in the run game, and you have a solid baseline to build with.
The 6-4, 260-pound ended his Sooners career with 110 total tackles, 33 tackles for loss, and 12.5 sacks. He left a mark on the Oklahoma with his combination of production, dependability, and leadership. There’s no questioning that Downs would be, at worst, a strong addition to the Jaguars room from a character perspective.
Without any elite traits, Downs is never going to threaten Hines-Allen or Walker for a starting role, and that’s totally fine. What he does project as, however, is an important rotational piece in a defensive end room. On the Jaguars, they have some question marks for who will back up them both. Opportunity is certainly there to compete.
The team did bring in veteran Emmanuel Ogbah, so he will be solidified as a backup in one spot. Outside of him, Downs will be competing with the likes of Mason Cole, and fellow undrafted free agents Danny Striggow and BJ Green. I like Downs’ chance of making this roster in 2025.
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